Our week at a glance

Here are a few of the things that kept us busy this week.  This seems easier doing posts a week at a time!  Next week us just as full of activities...starting with new braces for makenna...state championship playoff for the girls basketball team from SJ!  Can't wait to go see that!  Life is busy and I love it most when I am with my family!

We got to watch one of our favorite little girls!  Josie is such a beautiful little girl!  She fits right in with the family when she comes over.  We love having a little girl around and love to fix her hair in all kinds of pigtails!  I had to put this other picture of she and kailey.  A few weeks ago we went out with patty and al and kailey kept all the kids.  When we came home this is what we found on the couch!  How cute are they both sleeping!  Thanks patty and al for sharing your little darling with us

Picked tomatoes from my little garden that I am loving so much!  Can't wait to grow more in the spring!

Aruged with my kids and made them help clean up the back yard!  Looks great when its nice and clean!

Kyle got asked to Sadie Hawkins dance.  His room smelled like peanut butter for days.  It was funny because he didn't clean them up right away.  We would go in and get a few and snack on them.  So thanks Maile!

Played Human foose ball with the young men and women for wednesday night activity!  That was a fun activity....the kids all really enjoyed it.  Popped a few balls but liked playing.

I got to work with my friends at work!  Woo Hoo!  Seems like that doesn't get to happen that much so I count it as a blessing.  Great co-workers!

Makenna played her last 2 games in JBA.  They all did a really good job and made great improvements compared to the beginning.  They had to play 2 games back to back and it really wore them out!  Way to go makenna.....future basketball star!

Although the week was busy I wouldn't have missed any of these things for the world!  Maybe not the arguing with the kids about cleaning the yard.  Maybe next time they will help with glee!

Kyle turned 18 on Valentines Day.  I still can't believe that.  Mostly because the realization that he will be moving on with his life soon saddens me.  But enough of my selfishness.  Kyle is an amazing young man.  I am amazed by him continually. 

As a child, Kyle was really easy to take care of.  I can't really think of a time that he gave me any trouble.  

He always loved to learn and had a imagination like no other! 

Kailey came soon after Kyle and he was always a great older brother. 

He was so cute and had the cutest little voice.  

He always included kailey in all the things he imagined up to do.  

Kyle is a really smart boy. 

Everything that has to do with school has always come really easy to him.  Something I hope he realizes and uses to his benefit in life.

Kyle is one of the most caring people I know!  Probably why he was born on Valentines Day!

He did many funny things when he was young.  One included CONSTANTLY cutting his sister kailey's hair.  I can't tell you how many times she would finally start to grow hair and he would chop it off.  I can't believe as I look at some of these pictures how much time has passed.  I remember each picture so vividly.  Many trips to the park with cousins and family. 

 He has the most beautiful eyes. 

 He can be a great brother when he chooses to be.

He is an Eagle Scout...FINALLY!

He is an amazing piano player.

He loves to collect stuff from Goodwill.  Eclectic stuff like his picture of Bianca.

He loves his cousins and talks about them often.

He is really good a math!

He loves to run and has become quite the runner.

He eats tons but stays skinny.

He can be really spiritual at times which amazes me!

He always tries to do the right thing.  Or it is always on his mind.

I am so thankful to have been his mom!  I love that he comes home for lunch this year.  We have got to spend a lot of nice lunches together!  I will cherish that always!  I hope he realizes his potential in life.  He is such a handsome guy and one of the nicest I know!  I am so proud of him and who he has chosen to become!  I feel very blessed to be his mother!

Happy Birthday Kyle!  We love you more than you know!

Mothers

Tonight there was a fireside at church that I went to with a couple of friends.  It was so great.  I am so glad that I went!  The Stake President had his 16 year old son talk about his mother.  He said one quote on being a mother that struck me so profoundly!  I had to go ask him what it was.  He told me where he got it and this is what it says....

"A mother has far greater influence on her children than anyone else, and she must realize that every word she speaks, every act, every response, her attitude, even her appearance and manner of dress affect the lives of her children and the whole family. It is while the child is in the home that he gains from his mother the attitudes, hopes, and beliefs that will determine the kind of life he will live and the contribution he will make to society." Eldon Tanner

I LOVE this so much!  At first I thought about my mother.  I thought about how she has been such a great example to me.  She truly has emulated this quote to the tee.  Then I started thinking about myself as a mother.  Being a mom has been the most special thing to me.  I love my kids more than anything.  I constantly worry about if I have taught them all they need to know to survive in this world, spiritually, physically.  I am constantly thinking about my kids and what I can do better.  I appreciate Derek sharing this.  Wow a 16 year old boy can actually have these great thoughts about his mom!

I am thankful for my wonderful mom and the example she has been to me.  I know that I am a good mom because of her.  She has always been loving and caring to me.  I hope I can pass on to my kids all the good parts of me.  That my attitude and example will be one that they admire and will want to possess.  I realize the great responsibility that comes when you have children.  I don't take it lightly.  I am so thankful to rob for helping me create these special beautiful children that I have!  I hope I can live up to the possibility of being a great mom! I am truly blessed in my life!